Umbrella handle attachment

ABSTRACT

The present umbrella handle attachment is designed especially to simplify and improve the postman&#39;&#39;s work of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;fingering&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; the mail during house to house delivery especially in inclement weather when an open umbrella is needed to protect the mail as well as the postman but without the trouble and care usually required for such accomplishment thereby rendering his fingers free when required to sort and thus finger the mail which otherwise would require the work of three hands instead of two at such times, especially when gloves are required during cold and wet weather. Under such requirements the umbrella handle attachment is both removable and reversible for enlargement as well as like automatic adjustment by the weight of the umbrella through that range.

United States Patent [1 1 Beehler [451 Sept. 4, 1973 UMBRELLA HANDLE ATTACHMENT [76] Inventor: William H. Beehler, 205 W.

Lombard St., Baltimore, Md.

[22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1971 21 App]. No.: 202,158

[52] US. Cl 135/47, 224/45 P [51] Int. Cl A45b H00 [58] Field of Search 135/47, 46, 45;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,562 4/1961 Long 224/45 P X 1,068,428 7/1913 Hall 135/47 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 935,733 2/1948 France 135/47 Primary ExaminerJ. Karl Bell Attorney-Clements & Greigg 5 7 ABSTRACT The present umbrella handle attachment is designed especially to simplify and improve the postmans work of fingering the mail during house to house delivery especially in inclement weather when an open umbrella is needed to protect the mail as well] as the postman but without the trouble and care usually required for such accomplishment thereby rendering his fingers free when required to sort and thus finger the mail which otherwise would require the work of three hands instead of two at such times, especially when gloves are required during cold and wet weather. Under such requirements the umbrella handle attachment is both removable and reversible for enlargement as well as like automatic adjustment by the weight of the umbrella through that range.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UMBRELLA HANDLE ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in umbrella handle attachments.

Umbrella attachment devices designed to help secure and support the umbrella in its upright position for use are of course well known. These devices generally have the disadvantage, however, that require the handle to be fastened to an external supportive device, such as a postmans mailbag, rather than allowing for a more secure carriage by hand. A further disadvantage exists in that devices heretofore known have generally dispensed with the hand-held stock, thereby rendering them less flexible in use and more restrictive to special applications.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive attachment to a standard umbrella handle which will render it able to be more securely held to the hand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hand-held umbrella which allows the user more freedom of action of the fingers of the hand while holding Y the umbrella overhead.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a single strap member which can be adjusted to the size of the users hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a strap-like member for slidable attachment to an umbrella adapted to engage the back of the hand comprising an elongated strap-like member including in relative spaced relation at the ends thereof plural loops of plastic material having means defining openings therein, said openings being in axial alignment for slidable attachment of the strap-like member to one side of an umbrella handle, whereby upon insertion of the hand between the strap and the handle, the first of said loops is caused to slide toward the second of said loops on said handle due to the weight of the umbrella, drawing said strap tight across the back of 'the hand of a user. In the preferred embodiment said umbrella hantile is provided with an abutment to retain the second of said loops from slipping off the shank of said handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the improved strap device;

FIG. 1b is a fragmentary view of the improved strap device of FIG. 10 showing a simplified alternate construction;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention in one embodiment of use and secured on the hand of the DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. la, it will be seen that the invention comprises an elongated plastic strap 10 provided with two plastic loops l1 and 12, with one loop disposed at each end of said strap and attached thereto by any suitable means, such as by sewing with thread or heat-sealing, as is well known. The invention further provides that the improved strap device shall be of a length less than that of the stock of the handle and that the loops 11 and 12, which are secured thereto, shall be of a diameter such that they may be freely slipped onto the stock into either position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, yet the strap 10 will snugly grip the back of the hand of the user when the weight of the umbrella is supported thereby, thus allowing for the secure fastening of the umbrella to the hand, all of which will be better understood as the description progresses.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the strap 10 is shown positioned on the stock of the umbrella, in conforming engagement therewith and with the loops 11 and 12 carried at the extreme ends thereof. Thus, in this view, the strap 10 is shown extended to its full length, at which time the terminal ends 13 and 14 of the loops l1 and 12 are maintained in adjacent relation on the stock 16, as shown in FIG. 1a, whereby the'strap device may accommodate the passage of a large (or gloved) hand therethrough.

Alternatively, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment or manner of usage wherein the strap 10 has been shortened to its least length by placing the strap 10 on the stock so that the ends 13 and 14 of the loops 1 1 and 12 are opposed, in order that a small (or ungloved) hand may be accommodated snugly when inserted between the stock and the strap 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In both of these concepts (FIGS. 3 and 4), there is provided on the stock at its base an abutment 17 which is designed to limit the travel of the upper loop 11 and to retain said loop from slipping off the stock.

In view of the foregoing it is believed now to be clear from FIG. 3 that this one position in which the strap device is shown is attained when the umbrella is being normally carried by a person who has a large hand and applies as well to one with a smaller hand, the arrangement for such a person being shown in FIG. 4.

Should it begin to rain the person merely inserts his hand between the strap 10 and the stock 16 at which time the strap 10 extends across the back of the hand, as shown in FIG. 2, and by reason of the umbrella weight, as explained earlier herein, the lower loop slides upwardly so that the strap is drawn sufficiently tight about the back of the hand thus making it unnecessary for one to grip the stock to retain the umbrella erect during a position of use.

This inventive concept has many advantages among them being the very practical utility for a postman who must deliver mail in the rain.

It will be seen how this improvement will facilitate the freedom of use of a postmans Ihand (FIG. 2) while sorting his mail.

What is claimed is:

l. A readily removable self adjusting strap-like member for binding the interposed hand gripping the shank of a handle supported umbrella, comprising a length of said strap having axially aligned loops secured to opposite end portions adjacent one side only thereof, said loops being of a diameter to slide freely over the shank of said handle from the free end thereof toward a stop at the upper end thereof to thereby adjust the distance between said loops to automatically bind said length of strap against the back of the interposed hand abutting the shank of said handle.

secured to opposite end portions thereof, said loops being of a diameter to slide freely over the shank of said handle and abut said stop to thereby adjust the distance between said loops to automatically bind said length of said strap under the weight of said umbrella against the back of the interposed hand gripping the shank of said handle.

I I i i 

1. A readily removable self adjusting strap-like member for binding the interposed hand gripping the shank of a handle supported umbrella, comprising a length of said strap having axially aligned loops secured to opposite end portions adjacent one side only thereof, said loops being of a diameter to slide freely over the shank of said handle from the free end thereof toward a stop at the upper end thereof to thereby adjust the distance between said loops to automatically bind said length of strap against the back of the interposed hand abutting the shank of said handle.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank of the umbrella handle includes an abutment, said abutment serving as a means to control sliding movement of one of the loops of the strap-like member.
 3. A strap-like member for binding the interposed hand gripping the shank of a handle supported umbrella, a stop at the upper end of said handle comprising a length of said strap having axiallY aligned loops secured to opposite end portions thereof, said loops being of a diameter to slide freely over the shank of said handle and abut said stop to thereby adjust the distance between said loops to automatically bind said length of said strap under the weight of said umbrella against the back of the interposed hand gripping the shank of said handle. 